Steps to Starting a Podcast

Podcasting is now where blogging was in the early 2000s – booming and being discovered by the masses as a relatively easy way to both consume and create content of all sorts. This post is for the creators, or rather the prospective creators – those considering launching a podcast. I have been part of launching three in the past 5 years, so this stems from what I have learned in those experiences as well as conferring with other podcasters. This list was compiled with he help of Jonathan Howe who helped launch and co-hosts Rainer on Leadership. It is not a comprehensive list or a detailed plan exactly, but if you use this list as you plan It will help you over many podcasting speed bumps.

Listen to lots of podcasts

Familiarize yourself with the medium.

Learn what you love and hate.

Find styles with which you resonate.

Discover what’s already out there.

Define your specialty or focus

What are you passionate about?

What are you good at?

What do you bring to the table to benefit a specific audience?

Do you know who that target audience is?

Define your target audience

Based on your focus, who do you most need to reach?

Who will be the people you are speaking to/for each episode?

Who do you already reach that will likely tune in?

Would they be interested in your focus?

Determine the best format and style for your topic and audience

Conversational among set hosts – features the hosts thoughts and repartee

Conversational with guests – could have a single host or multiple hosts